–August 30, 2006
The parents of an 11-year-old boy who committed suicide after taking the antidepressants Zoloft and Effexor reached a settlement agreement with the drug companies earlier this month.
Jacob Jackson hanged himself to death in October 2002. His parents, David and Debra Jackson, claimed that side effects of the antidepressants were to blame for their son’s hanging death.
Jacob’s History
According to their lawsuit, Jacob had only been taking Zoloft for a month prior to his death. A doctor prescribed the antidepressant on September 9, 2002, and shortly thereafter, Jacob’s behavior worsened.
The parents claimed that Jacob began to experience intense bouts of agitation and suicidal thoughts. Between September 17 and October 2, three different doctors recommended an increase in dosage of Zoloft.
Two days prior to Jacob’s death, one of the doctors advised that he gradually decrease his dosage. At that time, the doctor also prescribed Effexor for Jacob.
The Role of the Drug Makers
The lawsuit alleged that the makers of Zoloft and Effexor, Pfizer and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals respectively, failed to conduct adequate studies on the effects of their antidepressants in the pediatric population prior to marketing to the public.
The drug makers have consequently agreed to pay Jacob’s parents an undisclosed settlement amount.
In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration began requiring antidepressant manufacturers to include a warning for the increased risk of suicide among children and teenagers.
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